Precision vise having a coacting locking plate and jaw-advancing screw



Feb. 5, 1957 N. M. JOHANSON 2,780,123

PRECISION VISE HAVING A COACTING LOCKING PLATE AND JAW-ADVANCING SCREW 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1955 Lars ,N. M. Johanson 1" INVENTOR.

Feb. 5, 195? L. N. M. JOHANSON 2,730,123

PRECISION VISE HAVING A COACTING LOCKING I PLATE AND JAW-ADVANCING SCREW Filed Oct. 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 70 724/ V w 74 T- ',54 66.

H \54 5 2 %8 H I6 48 50 m fn' w I 1 6 44 22 Lars NM. Jahanson INVENTOR.

WWW mm United States Patent PRECISION VISE HAVING A COACTING LOCKING PLATE AND JAW-ADWAN CIN G SCREW This invention relates to vises and particularly to instrument makers Vises.

An object of the invention is to provide an instrument makers vise which includes a fixed 'jaw and a movable jaw, the movable jaw being slidable' on rails to a position where it contacts the work and then clamped against the work. and against the railsby rotating a single actuating device serving the function of both locking the movable jaw to the rails and bringing the movable j-aw into firm contacting relationship with the workpiece.

After considerableuse of presently available vises, the movable jaw generally becomes worn and the wear is such that the inner edge of the movable jaw lifts upwardly when it is brought into contact with the workpiece. Such movement, often in the order of several thousandths of an inch, is unwanted and in many instances harmful. Accordingly, a further object of this invention is to provide a movable jaw construction in a vise wherein the force applied to the jaw in order to hold it against the workpiece is applied at an angle passing downwardly toward the base of the vise and forwardly toward the fixed jaw of the vise. In this way there is no tendency for the front edge of the movable jaw to ride upwardly when it is being clamped against the workpiece.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the vise showing it in the operative condition to hold the workpiece for example, for drilling; l t

Figure 2 is a top view of thelviseshown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the devicein Figure 1; 3

Figure 4 is atransver'sesectional view taken on a line 44 of Figure l and shows the various guideways in the base;

FigureS is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 2 and shows a coacting locking plate and jaw-advancing screw;

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged scale transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 5 and shows how the slidable jaw is guided on the base; and, Figure 8 is a still further enlarged, fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on a line 8-8 of Figure 6 and shows a pin-and-slot connection between the slidable jaw and its actuating shaft, the pin being shown in phantom outline. V

The precision vise 10 is indicated as an instrument makers vise although this expression is intended only to convey the fact that the vise is a high quality, very low tolerance tool. This expression is not to be interpreted as being useful by merely one craft.

The vise consists of a base 12 made of substantial 'ice stock and having a fixed jaw 14 at one end thereof. The base is provided with threaded apertures 16 in which to attach hold-down clamps, these being optionally useful by the machinist or instrument maker.

A longitudinal central slot provides a way 22 which extends from end to end of the base 12 and opens outwardly through the undersurface thereof. A longitudinal central T slot 24 is formed in an upper portion of the base 12 and extends from the fixed jaw 14 to the opposite end of the vise to provide inwardly directed ribs 26 and 28 and a pair of longitudinally extending, spaced guide rails. V-shaped guide grooves 130 and 32 are formed in the guide rails and, like the T slot 24, extend from the jaw 14 to the opposite end of the base 12. A longitudinal central slot 18 extends through a web which separates the way 22 from the T slot 24 and provides communication between the latter for a major portion of their longitudinal extents.

A movable jaw 34 consists of a block 36 fitted with V-shaped ribs 38 and 40 slidable in the grooves 30 and 32 A tongue 42 extends from the block 36 and is guided between confronting sides of the ribs 26 and 28. A slide 44 is attached by a bolt 46 to the tongue 42, the bolt passing through a spacer 48 which is integral with the slide 44. The spacer 43 is disposed. in the slot 18, while the slide 44 is located in the way 22 so that its side surfaces fit fiush against confronting surfaces of the Way 22. Side surfaces of spacer as fit slidably against confronting sides of the slot 18, whereby the jaw 34 is capable of sliding movement toward and away from the fixed jaw 14 but is incapable of being deflected laterally. A setscrew Sit in the spacer ,48 of the slide 44 is used as a stop when the movable jaw is fully opened. As far as the operation of the vise is concerned, the block 36, the spacer 48 and the slide 44 could be made of one piece. However, for assembly purposes they are made in two pieces, the spacer 48 of the slide 44 being interfitted with the tongue 42 of the block 36.

Means for locking the movable jaw 34 in a preliminary Work clamping position on the base 12 are operatively associated with it. The preferred means consist of a generally L-shaped locking element 52, the latter having legs 54 and 56 that are arranged at an angle with respect to each other, the angle being something slightly less than Leg 54 has a heel surface 58 which is slidable in the T slot 24 and whichcan be pressed down against spaced upper surfaces of the T slot 24 in order to lock theelement 52 on the base 12, and hence to secure the jaw 34 in the preliminary,work-c-lamping: position. Although the leg 56 is mad e'intwo pieces, it might have been constructed in one piece and other provisions for assembly made. In the illustration the leg 56 has its upper piece connected to its lower piece by means of a bolt 62. This upper piece has a passage 64 amply large to accommodate loosely a shaft 66. This shaft is fitted with a flange 63 adapted to bear against the upper piece of the leg 56. It has a threaded shank 70 disposed in a threaded bore 72 in the block 36. A groove 74 having the same axial length as the threads on shank '70,

is formed in the shaft 66 near the outer end thereof. A pin 8i carried by the block 36 and projecting into an aperture 82 accommodating the outer end of the shaft 66, rides in the groove '74 and serves as a stop to limit the angular distance through which the shaft 66 may be rotated. A noncircular opening as at 88 is provided in the end of the shaft 66 in order to accommodate a wrench to impart rotation to the shaft 66. Other expedients may be resorted to in this regard.

A spring 99 is concentrically located on the shaft 66 and has one end anchored to the upper piece of the leg 56 of the L-shaped locking element. The opposite end bears on the inner surface of a front wall 92 of the block 36, this front wall being comprised of a circular plate having the aperture 82 in it and being held in place by screws 95 and 96. This is also a manufacturing expedient to obtain precision fit with a minimum of machining.

The same holds true with regard to the fixed jaw 14 which has a tongue and groove connection to one end of the base 12 and is secured by bolts 15 (Figures .1 and 2) and a centering pin 17 (Figures 2 and The operation of the vise is as follows: A workpiece, as at W, is placed between jaw surfaces 9'7 and 98 or in notches at the upper ends thereof. The movable jaw 34 is manually slid toward the workpiece until it contacts it. Then the shaft 66 is rotated, as by using a wrench. Upon initial rotation'of the shaft 66, the flange 6% tilts the locking element 52 in the T slot 24. This tilting or rocking movement is very slight and the force applied to the clamp element is at the top thereof as described previously. Upon such rocking movement, the locking surface 53 binds against the spaced upper surfaces of the T slot 24 beneath the ribs 26 and 28. This will perrnit the jaw 34 to be moved toward the jaw 14 but will prevent its movement in the opposite direction, since any tendency of the jaw 34 to move away from the stationary jaw 14, merely increases the binding action between the surface 58 of the locking element 52 and the T slot surfaces.

Further rotation of the shaft 66 will cause the block 36-to move toward the stationary jaw 14 inasmuch as the shaft 66 reacts on the now stationary locking element 52. Forward movement of the jaw 34 in this manner brings it into firm contact with the workpiece W and holds the workpiece.

In order to release the movable jaw 34 the shaft 66 is rotated in the opposite direction. By so rotating the shaft 66 the threaded shank 70 moves into the bore 72 thereby separating the flange 68 from the locking element 52 or at least, tending to cause such a separation. Actually, the spring 90 reacting on the front wall of the block 36 and on the leg 56 retains the flange 68 and the upper part of the leg 56 is constant contact. Upon the initial movement of the flange 68 away from the leg 56 the surface 58 of the locking element 52 no longer binds in the T slot 24. Accordingly,.the movable block 34 and locking element 52 are capable of being manually slid as a unit in both directions on the base 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A vise comprising a base, a stationary jaw connected to said base, said base having a pair of rails, a movable jaw slidably mounted on said rails, said base having a pair of longitudinal slots parallel to said rails, a locking element connected to said movable jaw, said element having locking surfaces which coact with surfaces of said slots to releasably hold said element fixed on said base, a screw threaded into said movable jaw, means on said screw for tilting said locking element in order to bind said locking surfaces against the surfaces of said slots when said screw is rotated in'one direction, said screw, upon being rotated further in said one direction, reacting on the now locked element and sliding said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw, a spring reacting on said locking element and said movable jaw and opposing the tilting of said element in its locking direction and returning said element to its nonlocking position when said screw is rotated in an opposite direction.

2. The vise of claim 1 wherein said base has a way extending longitudinally thereof, andmeans connected to said movable jaw and slidably disposed in said way for preventing said movable jaw from being sepaarted from said base.

3. A precision vise comprising a base, a stationary jaw secured to said base, said base including a pair of rails, a movable jaw slidably mounted on said pair of rails, said base having a pair of longitudinal slots parallel to said rails, a'locking element connected to said movable jaw, said locking element having locking surfaces which coact with surfaces of said slots to releasably hold said element fixed on said base, a screw threaded into said movable jaw, means on said screw for tilting said locking element in order to bind said locking surfaces against the surfaces of said slots when said screw is rotated in one direction; said screw, upon being rotated further in said one direction, reacting on the now locked element and sliding said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw, and means reacting on said locking element and said movable jaw and opposing the tilting of said locking element in its locking direction and returning said element to its nonlocking position when said screw is rotated in an opposite direction.

4. The precision vise of claim 3 wherein said means on said screw for tilting said locking element includes a flange which bears against said locking element, said flange being'rigidly attached to' said screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,196 Olsen Nov. 11, 1941 2,465,679 Fleury et al Mar. 29, 1949 2,645,144 Williams July 14, 1953 

